We tested the diet vs. non-diet theory last year in my chemistry class. The students set up a whole matrix of experiments using diet and non-diet and regular and smooth mentos and got the effect with diet and non-diet. Biggest variable was the mentos - smooth coated ones didn't do anything. The aspartame may react with something on the surface of the mentos (do you happen to know what the reaction is?) but if it does do so and produces any CO2, it didn't appear to be an appreciable amount compared to the pulling of CO2 that was already dissolved out of solution. I think mythbusters did a similar thing...Dr_Watson wrote:
yeah, the mentos thing (also has something to do with the reaction with aspertime which is why it only really works with diet) is why i guess that the rough surface of ice is a likely candidate to why a soda fizzes like mad as soon as the cube sinks in.
at the warm soda freaks -- when i was a kid i had a friend who's parents were like that, fuckers kept all the soda on the counter BESIDE the fridge... wtf? you bitches got it 2ft from where it's supposed to be! man up, open the damn door, and put that shit in there.
Speaking of the people with annoying soda habits - here are some more of mine. My apologies if I offend anyone's soda buying habits here. And I will use the term "even worse" repeatedly.
1) The 2 Liter bottlers - these are the people who NEVER buy cans because they always have some fucking coupon for two 2 liter bottles for the price of one or some shit like that. And they never put the bottles in the fridge. Instead, they sit in the pantry or on top of the fridge. You'll be at dinner, they'll offer you some Pepsi, and you expect a cold can...instead they say "THERE'S A BOTTLE ON TOP OF THE FRIDGE...GO AHEAD AND GET A PLASTIC CUP OUT OF THE CABINET AND GRAB SOME ICE OUT OF THE FREEZER...THE POP SHOULD STILL BE GOOD BECAUSE WE ONLY OPENED IT 2 DAYS AGO." A 2 liter is pretty much shit after its been opened 2 or 3 times. Even worse is watching the host drink this warm, flat shit and enjoy it. I just want to say "what the fuck is wrong with you?" when I see this happen.
2) The generic soda buyers - These people will never buy brand name soda because the $1.50 you save getting the generic shit can really be put to good use (usually for something like buying generic hot dog buns or generic breakfast cereal). Similar situation - they catch you off guard by making what seems like a nice offer - soda. You expect something good, instead you are presented with a can of something like "Mr.Soda" or "Yummy Cola" or whatever the store-brand at the local wal-mart or supermarked is. This stuff usually tastes horrible. Even worse is when a person like this is also one of the people with an aversion to using the refrigerator. Serving generic soda is bad enough...serving warm generic soda deserves a beating.
Even worse is when someone combines #1 and #2 and buys generic 2 liter bottles. My in-laws do this. I am going to give them $50 next time I am up there and say "here, from now on ONLY buy brand name soda. The $50 should cover the difference in cost for a couple years." If a person enjoys either of these - more power to them. Whenever I have company, I always check ahead to see what beer, soda, etc., everyone wants so we can have it for them when they are here. I thought more people thought about things like that when they were going to have visitors.
You know what else pisses me off? This McDonald's commercial that is running now - it runs each year when the McRib sandwich is sold. It shows a bunch of young people standing in line like they are waiting for concert tickets, but actually they are waiting for McRibs. The first two guys that get them come out with their McRibs in hand, gloating and waving them at the rest of the crowd. That commercial is almost as irritating as the Carl's Jr. ones I have ranted about before.
